[[ NOTE: I'm slowly editing through this story. In case you come across something that has change, that is why. :) Depending on the direction, the story line in previous chapters may change some, as well! ]]
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The birds chirped cheerily in the morning, welcoming a new day. "Sky, have you heard from Rae this morning?" Yasmin asked, feeling her chest tighten with worry for some reason. Skylar and Adriel looked at Yasmin, shaking their heads in confusion. It wasn't like Raina not to send a morning greeting through their group chat. Feeling worried, Adriel and Skylar checked their phones to see if she had sent them anything. Nothing. Yasmin's heart quickened, a heavy feeling sat in the pit of her stomach—something wasn't right…
"Get in the car now," Adriel said to the twins, his expression grim. He hoped the feeling in his chest was just nothing and that maybe Raina just accidentally slept in. He scrolled through his contacts looking for Niko's number then clicked the call button. Adriel waited as the line rang and rang, his brows folded deeper with worry. Niko usually answers. He thought to himself. "Damn," Skylar have never seen Adriel this worked up before, he was always goofy and cheerful.
"I'll try him this time, just focus on driving," Skylar said, holding his phone up to his ear. Skylar cursed at his phone as the line reached Niko's voicemail. The three arrived at Raina's house, seeing the police cars and ambulance blocking the front yard and driveway. "Rae," Yasmin cried out softly, her eyes brimmed with tears. They got out of the car and tried to go in the house but was stopped by an officer.
"Please let us through! Our friend is in there!" Adriel begged, as the officers stopped them from going through. Skylar assessed the situation, looking into the house. He spotted a dark-haired boy, Niko, whose trying to console Maria. "Niko!" Skylar shouted, gaining their attention.
Niko saw his friends, confusion and worry written all over their faces. "Maria, stay here for a second, I'm going to get the others," Maria nodded slowly, feeling numb. She hasn't been able to stop crying since she had come from to see the house in a mess with Raina missing. The officers had been investigating since early this morning and even sent rescuers into the forest. However, she and Niko still haven't heard anything from them.
"Mari!" Yasmin cried out, wrapping her arms on the grief stricken woman. "Where's Rae?" She asked her softly, her voice trembled with tears threatening to fall at any minute. Maria's composure broke, breaking down once again. "She's missing," Maria whispered, her voice cracking as she continued to sob. Adriel and Skylar were shocked, turning into denial. "Missing?" Adriel was the first to ask, breaking the silence that had fallen amongst them.
Niko growled, punching the wall. He had told the officers everything that had happened, to the extent of his knowledge. He had rushed to the house after Raina's call—she sounded scared. However, by the time he had arrived, the house was a mess and the back door wide open. He called Maria as soon as he arrived and for her to call the police. He had searched the forest all night but he didn't know where to start. Finally, the officers and rescuers forced him to stop by detaining him. Maria told him not to blame himself but he couldn't help it. He hasn't slept in twenty four hours and refused to sleep a wink until Raina was found.
Yasmin shook her head in denial. "No," she whispered, covering her mouth. Yasmin tried processing everything that had happened but it became too, overwhelming. Her legs trembled, causing her to sway. Adriel caught her before she fell. He shifted his body and wrapped her arms around Yasmin to support her weight. "She's out there. I can feel it," she said softly.
Sky. Adriel. Yas. Niko…help me!
Niko's head snapped, looking at the others, whose looking back at him with the same expression on their faces. "I know where she is," Yasmin looked at the others, walking through the kitchen before running in a full sprint towards the forest. Skylar ran after his sister with Adriel and Niko not too far behind him. Yasmin couldn't shake the feeling that she's out there somewhere. She can feel it deep in her bones. Raina was calling out to them, Yasmin just knew it. "Hey! You kids don't go in there!" An officer called out but Yasmin and the guys slipped past them, running deeper into the forest. "Do you guys feel it too?" Adriel asked, looking at Niko and Skylar, to which they nodded.
"Her presence. It's like I can feel it all of a sudden," Skylar explained. Niko had the same feeling since the night before but it faded all of a sudden, which made him feel hopeless. Yasmin stopped, looking around the forest. "It's getting stronger," she said. "This way guys!" She took off to her right. Niko recognized where they were at—not too far from where they were, is a small pond and a waterfall. "She's at the falls," he shouted.
Raina's body was lying just at the shore of the pond. She was in nothing but her robe, completely drenched from head to toe. Her skin was pale as snow and lips so blue. "Raina!" Skylar and Niko ran towards her body while Adriel held Yasmin in his arms, shielding her away from the body. "R-Raina…" she called out, tears ran down her cheeks. Adriel cursed his eyes fixated on their friend.
"She has a pulse, barely. We have to get her to the ambulance now!" Skylar exclaimed, not wasting a moment more, he couldn't risk keeping her out here any longer than she already had. Niko nodded, positioning Raina across his back—which would be easier to carry her. Please don't take her yet…Niko begged to the higher beings, Gods if you will.
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The machines beeped rhythmically in the room. Raina laid in the hospital bed with all kinds of tubes hooked up to her. Maria had gone home to change and get some sleep, much to her dismay but Skylar insisted. Thankfully, her sister was in the same hospital she worked at. So, Maria felt at peace knowing her sister will be taken care of.
Yasmin had lounged by Raina with her head resting on the bed. She woke up and wrapped her hands over Raina's, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey sis, come on. Let's go home for a bit and get some rest," Yasmin gnawed on her bottom lip, hesitating to leave her friend. "Don't worry. Niko and Adriel will make sure she's okay," he assured her with a gentle smile to which she nodded, reluctantly.
Adriel pulled Yasmin into his arms and squeezed her gently, leaving a soft kiss on her head. "We'll call you first thing when she starts waking up," he whispered in her ear. Yasmin nodded, squeezing him while holding back her tears. "Get some rest Yas," Niko said then giving her a short, but comforting hug. "Thanks guys," Skylar nodded his head at the two before leaving with his sister.
Two days has passed since the night Raina was found in the forest. Niko continued to blame himself, getting angrier each day she remained in a coma. What the hell happened? Is the question that continued to loop in his mind. He couldn't focus on anything else. The atmosphere in school even changed—the incident weighing heavily on every student, especially the senior class, whose a lot closer to her. Some were confused and others were worried as well. While a few spread rumors that Raina had overdosed on drugs, which was shut down before it could spread like wildfire. Niko groaned angrily, slowly feeling himself spiral out of control. Consumed with anger and guilt, as he blamed himself for not being there any sooner.
Adriel observed Niko, whom grew angrier by the second. He was worried about him. Adriel might be the only one whom understood the bond between Niko and Raina. Even if she wasn't fully aware or maybe, even too shy to show, those two cared for each other deeply. As stubborn as the two, Raina and Niko wouldn't admit it to each other. At least where they are with each other, at the moment. Adriel hoped, they could accept their feelings and admit it.
Adriel thought deeply, even with Skylar, he knew that Sky felt guilty for feeling jealous of the relationship Niko and Raina shared. But that fact didn't hinder his feelings for her one bit. Honestly, when it came to Raina, everyone held a different and special place in their hearts. Adriel rarely discusses deep and overwhelming feelings, but he was probably the most observant when it came to people's feelings—what they desired.
"I had planned to stop by her house that night," Niko said softly, holding back the tears stinging his eyes. "I was going to return her jacket…" he trailed off. "It's okay. No one could have known this would happen," Adriel placed his hand on Niko's shoulder, squeezing it slightly. Niko nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.
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